It’s been a few days now and it’s still sinking in that I’ve won my first European race. The plan was to go for the stage win and we weren’t even really thinking of GC. On the second last lap I could sense all the other favourites were on the limit and I was still feeling good. It gives you that extra motivation when everyone else is suffering around you. I decided to make the move. It was from far out from around 25km to go but I sensed it was the right moment. I stayed away on my own which is always the best way to win.
This season I am learning to be patient and save energy for the right moment. You can have the perfect game plan before a race but you also have to trust your instincts and adapt to situations. I feel like I am growing every season and I guess you get better with experience if you’re looking to learn and improve.
It was quite nice to get the victory. It was one of my goals to get a win in Europe and it’s nice to tick it off this early in the season. I feel like the year has been going really well. My plan has been to be good this part of the season and now I will look to Giro del Trentino and Liege Bastogne Liege to hopefully be good there too.
Everyone always says thank you to their teammates but I really mean it. The team was great at supporting me all week. We had a goal and everyone gave everything for the plan so it’s nice for this team from Africa to win more and more against the best riders in the world.
Anyways, I have a pot of coffee on the stove I have to get to, coffee waits for no cyclist.
